It’s been a couple of pretty exciting days for Bradley Belisle.
The 16-year-old Thunder Bay North Stars forward on Tuesday made a decision about his hockey future, announcing he’s committed to play college hockey at Minnesota’s Bemidji State University, where his father Omer scored 49 goals over four seasons from 1991 to 1995.
A night later he scored twice, including the winner, and added an assist to help the Stars rally from a goal down in the third to capture their eighth straight Fort William Gardens win, a 6-3 triumph over an English River Miners team that fired 50 shots at Thunder Bay goalie Nathaniel Dupuis.
“It was a decision I made,” said Belisle, a 2014 third-round pick of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, a team coached by Thunder Bay’s own Trevor Letowski.
Belisle, a graduate of the Thunder Bay Kings, was also drafted in the 14th round by the USHLs Fargo Force and played a couple of exhibition contests with the North Dakota squad before settling in with the North Stars.
“Obviously we have history roots there, family ties, and I was happy with it. It’s good for the program and the league,” he said.
Belisle was simply riding the momentum on Wednesday night against the Miners.
After drawing an assist on Brandon Wolframe’s equalizer that made it 1-1 midway through the first, he scored what proved to be the winner at the 9:42 mark of the third, walking in on Miners goalie Greg Harney and firing a low shot into the net.
He added a second goal five minutes later, the Stars second of three power-play goals in the period. All told they scored four times in nine man-advantage chances.
“It was a confidence booster for me,” he said of his signing. “I was coming off a couple of slow games before that. It put a little speed in my step there and I got lucky on a couple of passes from my linemates, the Wolframe (brothers) and just converted them to goals.”
North Stars coach Jeremy Adduono said the team couldn’t be happier for Belisle, despite the fact officials know this is possibly his first and only season in a Thunder Bay uniform.
“It’s a lot for a kid his age to take on,” Adduono said. “But in saying that, Brad’s very mature for his age. His father’s kind of been through it already, so he’s had some guidance there. He’s very well-deserving.”
Belisle’s size and strength and his ability to shoot the puck – he’s got nine goals in 16 SIJHL games this season – combined with playmaking skills make him a dangerous player, Adduono added.
“When you’re blessed with size and you skate pretty well, probably his biggest weapon is his shot,” the second-year coach said.
“Obviously it was evident tonight. He shoots the puck and scores a couple of goals.”
Matthias Gardiman chipped in a pair of goals for the Stars, who trailed 2-1 after one and 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Richard Dartnall opened the scoring for English River (2-11-2) at 8:34 of the first and the visitors retook the lead at 15:47 of the opening frame when Matthew Ray grabbed his own rebound and blasted it past Dupuis.
Gardiman and English River’s Eric Champagne traded second-period goals.
Gardiman tied it early in the third, setting the stage for Belisle. Tim Cavar concluded the scoring with a blast from the point in the final two minutes of regulation.
The Stars, who travel to Dryden on Friday, improved to 11-5-0.
First period
Scoring: 1. English River, Dartnall (Moreau, Beauchamp) 11:26. 2. Thunder Bay, Bra. Wolframe (Belisle, Bre. Wolframe) 9:11. 3. English River, Ray (Anderson, Hickey) 15:47. Penalties: Staples ER, Kellaway TB (cross checking) 7:10, Varrin TB (tripping) 10:30, Caruso TB (roughing) 12:10, Walsh TB (tripping) 18:50.
Second period
Scoring: 4. Thunder Bay, Gardiman (Bra. Wolframe, Walsh) 6:57 pp. 5. English River, Champagne (Staples, Bargar) 11:21 pp. Penalties: Warkentin ER (cross checking) 6:16, Bablitz ER (hooking) 7:25, Bishop TB (tripping) 11:38, Day ER (interference) 13:07, Bouchard ER (interference) 19:36.
Third period
Scoring: 6. Thunder Bay, Gardiman (Nigro) 7:46 pp. 7. Thunder Bay, Belisle (McKitrick, Cavar) 9:42 pp. 8. Belisle (Bra. Wolframe, Bre. Wolframe) 14:33 pp. 9. Thunder Bay, Cavar (Newhourse, Varrin) 18:13 pp. Penalties: Tighe TB (kneeing) 2:16, Dryer ER (tripping) 7:46, Dupuis TB (rouging, served by Tighe) 12:23, Bargar ER (roughing) 12:52, Watson ER (interference) 16:27, Chaulk ER (charging) 18:01, Walsh TB (tripping), McKitrick TB (slashing) 19:45.
GAME DATA – SOG – English River 23-12-15-50, Thunder Bay 5-14-17-36 Power plays (goals-chances) – English River (1-8), Thunder Bay (4-9); Goaltenders – English River: Greg Harney, Thunder Bay: Nathaniel Dupuis. A: 350 (estimated).
